Prairie Farm dam
Prairie Farm
Prairie Farm is a gravity dam located in Barron, Wisconsin, along the Hay River. Built in 1850 for recreational purposes, it stands at a height of 16.1 feet with a reservoir capacity of 220 acre-feet. The dam has a low hazard potential and is in fair condition, last inspected in August 2016. Despite being relatively old, Prairie Farm has undergone modifications in 1938, 1951, and 1958 to ensure its continued safety and effectiveness.
Managed by the local government, Prairie Farm is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR). The dam's spillway type is controlled, with a maximum discharge capacity of 6255 cubic feet per second. Its drainage area spans 95.6 square miles, serving as a crucial water resource for the region. With its location in a very high-risk area, the dam's risk assessment is designated as a Level 1, indicating the need for vigilant monitoring and management to mitigate potential hazards.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Prairie Farm offers a fascinating case study in dam infrastructure and management. Its historical significance, coupled with its role in recreation and water storage, highlights the importance of maintaining aging infrastructure to ensure public safety and water resource sustainability. As the dam continues to serve its purpose along the Hay River, efforts to monitor, assess, and manage its risks are essential in safeguarding the surrounding community and environment.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Prairie Farm -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hay River At Wheeler | 348 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River Near Colfax | 850 cfs | → |
| Red Cedar River At Menomonie | 1,280 cfs | → |
| Eau Galle River At Spring Valley | 19 cfs | → |
| St. Croix River At St. Croix Falls | 3,830 cfs | → |
| Chippewa River At Chippewa Falls | 6,280 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Prairie Farm.
Boat launches
- Prairie Farm Flowage -- Access
- Big Moon Lake -- Access
- Little Moon Lake -- Access
- Lower Turtle Lake - Access Of 3 3/4 4th Street
- Lower Turtle Lake - Access Off 12 1/2 Ave
- Camelia Lake -- Access
Campgrounds
- Pioneer Park - Prairie Farm
- Village Park Campground
- Turtle Lake City Park
- Myron Park & Campground
- Myron County Park
- Myron Park
More reservoirs
Track Prairie Farm in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Prairie Farm
Where does the data for Prairie Farm come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Prairie Farm.